ATHENS, Ga. - The UNC Asheville women's swim team enjoyed an outstanding second day of competition at the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association championships at Gabrielson Natatorium on the campus of the University of Georgia.

The Bulldogs, with just eight swimmers, moved into ninth place on Friday, and have accumulated 88 points.

"I could not be more proud of the team's performance today," stated Bulldog coach Elizabeth Lykins. "The second day can be a tough one, but every swimmer dug deep to make this one special. Alessandra Troncoso deserves high praise as the first ever Bulldog to final at the conference level."

Freshman Alessandra Troncoso had a great day on Thursday as she swam the second fastest time in the breaststroke during the 400 medley. Only two-time Olympian Dani Beaubrun of Florida Gulf Coast had a faster time than Troncoso.

She had another big day on Friday. Troncoso earned the fourth seed in the 100 breaststroke with a lifetime best and team record of 1:02.84. The time is a USA Swimming Nationals cut in this event. In the evening finals, she finished in fifth place with a time of 1:03.17. The freshman earned 14 points for the Blue & White.

Galen Broido earned a lifetime best and 13th place seed in the 400 individual medley with 4:31.80 during the morning preliminaries. In the finals, she moved up to 12th place and dropped two seconds to 4:29.86.

Also in the morning session, junior Liz Acker posted a lifetime best in the 100 butterfly at 1:01.63.

The third event of the morning had three Bulldogs competing in the 200 freestyle and all earned lifetime bests. Amanda Larsen was at 2:19.85. Hallie Gillespie posted a time of 2:10.54. Eliza Ritchie dropped eight seconds to a time of 2:04.37.

Kristen Lawson finished up in the morning in the 100 backstroke. She dropped three seconds to earn a lifetime best of 1:01.41.

The 200 Medley Relay team competed in the evening session and earned an eighth-place finish. Galen Broida had a split of 30.46. Troncoso posted the second fastest breaststroke split of the meet with an amazing time of 28.62. Liz Acker had a split of 27.26, while Ashley Ireland finished up with a time of 23.81.

The final event was the 800 freestyle relay. Asheville earned an 11th-place finish and earned 12 points for the Blue & White. Galen Broido dropped six seconds and led off with a time of 1:53.34. Eliza Ritchie posted a time of 2:04.21. Ashley Ireland went under two minutes for the first time ever at 1:59.74. Kristen Lawson anchored the team home with a thrilling finish at 1:59.87.

The Bulldogs will finish their first conference championship meet on Saturday starting at 10 a.m.